The Threshold Child (49 page)

By the time her mind began slowing down enough to drift off to
sleep, Adesina knew that there were only a couple of hours left until dawn.

The camp arose early, preparing the morning meal in a happy
bustle. Adesina kept herself aloof from the others, still feeling uncomfortable
from the festivities of the previous night. As Hestia began frying eggs, she
chatted with Adesina and L’era cheerfully.

“We have to use these supplies quickly anyway, because they will
not last. There are a few farmers who are willing to trade with us. We rotate
between them throughout the year. We work in the fields, rebuild barns, repair
roofs, perform at weddings, help shear sheep, build furniture, mend clothes—anything
people are willing to hire us for.”

“And they pay you with supplies?” asked L’era.

Hestia nodded. “It is the only payment we can use. Most merchants
will not accept money from the Ojuri because they assume we stole it from
somebody else.”

Adesina frowned. “What about the High City? They are known to
trade with people from the Northern Tribes.”

The elegant woman smiled. “We never go that far south, but it does
not matter. We get by just fine without money. Most of the time we keep to
ourselves, raising our families and enjoying the beauties of the world around
us. We only venture back to civilization when our food is running low.”

L’era furrowed her brow thoughtfully. “What about hunting?”

Hestia shrugged. “If we hunt too close to land that ‘belongs’ to
anyone, they accuse us of stealing or poaching. We find it safer to do as
little hunting as possible.”

She served them breakfast, changing the topic of discussion to
lighter subjects. Never once did she ask them where they were going or what
they were doing. Nor did she pry for more information about them personally.
When they were done eating, the Ojuri began getting ready to leave.

Ignoring the protests of the L’avan, several bags of supplies were
laid by their horses. Hestia shook her head adamantly. “If we do not take care
of each other, no one else will.”

With those simple words, she mounted her horse. The scarred young
man brought his horse next to hers, acting as if the L’avan didn’t exist.
Hestia gave Sa’jan one last lingering glance before turning away and riding
northwest. The Ojuri followed her, waving at the L’avan as they left.

The travelers watched them for a while before preparing to depart
as well. Adesina shook her head in amazement. “I have rarely met with such
people.”

Sa’jan’s eyes were still gazing after the Ojuri. “Yes, they are
exceptional. It does not matter how little they have, they will still give you
what you need.”

Adesina gave him a sly smile. “Hestia is rather exceptional
herself.”

He nodded absently. “She is the heart of the Ojuri.”

L’era joined her friend in teasing. “I think she has more in her
keeping than just her own heart.”

This brought a smile to Sa’jan’s face. “Perhaps, but that does not
matter right now.”

Adesina frowned. “Why?”

He pointed to the black ribbon he wore around his neck. “I am
still in mourning for my beloved wife. Besides, it is difficult for L’avan to
marry outside of our race.”

“Is it not allowed?” she asked.

“It is allowed,” he explained, “but our ways are so different from
other people’s. It is difficult to find harmony in such a union. There must be
equality between a husband and wife, and the gifts given to the L’avan are
rarely matched outside of our race.” Sa’jan turned his attention to preparing
his horse. “Also, there are other considerations.”

Her lips tightened in comprehension. “Like that young man.”

He was confused. “What young man?”

“The one who follows her around like an angry shadow.”

The light of understanding dawned in Sa’jan’s eyes. “Ah, Hestia’s
son. Do not judge him harshly. He is suspicious of any outsiders.”

“Why is that?” L’era asked innocently.

Sa’jan shook his head sadly. “Several years ago they were driven
out of a village by a mob. A torch dipped in oil was shoved against his face,
burning him badly. He was only ten years old at the time.”

Tears of sympathy and outrage welled up in L’era’s eyes. “How
could anyone do that?”

He looked at her, his eyes aged with the sorrow of experience.
“The world is a darker place than what we would wish it to be.”

Adesina heartily agreed, but said nothing. She had been raised
with the view that the world was corrupt and in need of dramatic change.
However, experience outside of the Shimat fortress had taught her that it was a
very different shade of black than what she had imagined.

Ravi, who seemed to read her thoughts by the expression on her
face, said to her quietly, “It is not too late for the darkness to be overcome.
A single ray of light can dispel all shadows, if given the right direction.”

She nodded slowly, wondering when that ray of light would come.

***

The L’avan continued southward, moving as quickly as they could.
They knew their supplies would eventually run out, and they needed to be near
villages that were not so set against trading with L’avan.

About a week after their encounter with the Ojuri, L’iam brought
them to a sudden halt. He pointed in the direction that led out of the trees.
“There is a camp there.”

Sa’jan frowned thoughtfully. “It is rare for any of the Northern
Tribes to venture into the central lands.”

The young prince’s expression became even more troubled. “I do not
believe that they are a Northern Tribe.”

“Who, then?” asked E’nes.

L’iam didn’t answer, but nudged his horse forward, moving out from
the cover of the forest. The other L’avan followed him cautiously.

Camped at a discreet distance from the forest were several ragged
groups of what could only be described as refugees. It was clear that they were
people unaccustomed to living outdoors.

They were scattered and unorganized, dragging along items that no
seasoned traveler would ever take on a journey. There were few horses and even
fewer wagons. The tents were all makeshift, created out of whatever the
refugees had in their possession.

As they approached the camp, they were spotted and shouts of
warning rang out through the camps. The refugees stared at them in fear as they
cautiously approached. Ravi, especially, was viewed with terror.

Adesina noticed the stares directed at him and frowned. “Can they
see you now?” she asked quietly.

Ravi chuckled. “Yes, I am allowing others to see me. I thought it
would give our party some added protection.”

“Well, it certainly makes us more noticeable,” she muttered.

They dismounted their horses while still at a fair distance from
the camps and went the rest of the way on foot. They wanted to seem as
non-threatening as possible.

The L’avan were met by a phalanx of men armed with sharpened
sticks and pitchforks.

“What do you want, magic users?” The hostility in their voices was
mingled with fear.

Adesina studied the people before her, suddenly realizing why they
seemed so familiar. Their clothes were in rags, but she could still make out
what they used to be.

“You are citizens of the High City!”

The foremost man lifted his chin arrogantly. “What of it?”

She spread her hands in an open gesture. Trying to look harmless
in spite of her Shimat uniform, Blood Sword, and L’avan features. “I used to
dwell in the High City.”

“Impossible,” spat the man. “We would never let one of your kind
live in our city!”

A figure pushed it’s way to the front of the phalanx and stared at
Adesina. She was shocked to find herself looking into a familiar face.

“Aleron!”

He could hardly believe his eyes either. “Adrie?”

Adesina could understand his disbelief. The last time he had seen
her, she had been dressed as a High City citizen and was pretending to be a
docile girl who hailed from the Northern Tribes. Now she stood before him
heavily armed and holding herself like an accomplished warrior.

Aleron continued to gape at her as if he had never seen her
before. When he spoke it was in a low, distrustful voice. “Did you have
something to do with the attack?”

She was baffled. “What attack?”

He didn’t answer her question, but searched her eyes for the
truth. When he saw that she honestly didn’t know what he was talking about, he
offered a small smile. “I can see that you did not. I am glad, so glad!”

Aleron spoke a few quiet words to the man who appeared to be their
leader. “I know this young woman. I will vouch for the company.”

The man wasn’t convinced. “What value will your vouching have when
the rest of us are dead?”

He shook his head angrily. “I tell you, I know this woman! She had
nothing to do with it.”

The man stood his ground stubbornly. “If you are so eager to join
them, then do so. I will not allow those magic users into our camp!”

Aleron straightened his back, handed his sharpened stick to the
man, and turned to face the L’avan. “May I join you for an evening meal?”

Adesina glanced at L’iam, who nodded readily. “Yes, of course. You
can tell us what happened here.”

He smiled grimly as he turned to walk back to his own camp. “And
you can tell me where you have been for the past few months. Please allow me
some time to clean up, and then I will join you.”

The L’avan returned to their horses and rode back towards the
trees. They set up a camp at the edge of the forest, keeping a close eye on the
refugees.

L’iam looked apologetic as he gave instructions. “We will have to
stay on guard. I know under normal circumstances they would be respectable
neighbors, but desperation changes people. We do not know of what they are
capable.”

L’era began building a fire while Sa’jan assembled ingredients for
the meal. Ravi stood guard, E’nes set up tents, and L’iam and Adesina attended
to the horses.

Aleron joined the group a short time later, riding a brown plow
horse. He slowed to a stop several feet away from the camp. His eyes were on
Ravi, uncertain how to act around such a beast.

Adesina walked over to Ravi’s side, resting her hand on his back. He
noticed the gesture and gave her a curious look. “Has this
creature
always
been with you?”

She was surprised by the question. “Yes. How could you know that?”

He pointed to her hand resting on Ravi. “You used to walk with
your hand extended like that. I never understood why until now.”

Adesina smiled and nodded. “Aleron, this is Ravi. He is my
guardian.”

Ravi inclined his head. “How do you do?”

The young man’s eyes bulged in shock. “It can talk!”

“Yes,
he
can.” she amended gently.

Adesina beckoned Aleron to dismount and follow her to the L’avan
camp. He did so with a small amount of trepidation. All citizens of the High
City knew of and feared the ‘magic users,’ but very few of them had had any
personal contact with them. Aleron’s brave words in the face of his rude
countryman now seemed to fall flat in the presence of the possible danger of
the strangers.

The L’avan straightened from what they were doing as the two
approached. The young woman began by gesturing to her friend. “This is Aleron,
of the High City.” Then she indicated to each of her companions, who bowed or
curtsied, respectively. “This is L’iam, the leader of our group, and his
sister, L’era. That is Sa’jan and E’nes, my brother.”

He bowed clumsily in return, staring at E’nes in shock. “I…I am
honored.”

L’era invited him to come and sit by the fire while dinner
finished cooking. Aleron was a bit intimidated by her exotic beauty, and could
only blush and mumble his thanks. Adesina sat down across from him, smiling at
his embarrassment.

He focused his attention on Adesina. “Where have you been, Adrie?”

Adesina’s expression became more serious. How could she explain
everything to him? “Well,” she began slowly, “first of all, I must tell you
that my name is not Adrie. It is Adesina.”

His sunny features clouded over in confusion. “Who are you?” he
asked in a troubled voice.

There was something in his tone that bothered Adesina. She
searched for the right words, but couldn’t seem to find them. Finally, E’nes
took over the explanation, laying a hand on his sister’s arm.

“My sister was taken from our people and raised by the Shimat. We
all assumed she was dead. Not long after the disappearance of the L’avan man
from the High City several months ago, L’iam and I came looking for him. We
discovered Adesina was living there, and convinced her to come with us back to
our homeland.”